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Refurbished Park Launch Event
The £285,000 makeover of Victoria Park in Aberfeldy was offically launched on 22 September in fine weather, with large crowds and a host of activities and entertainments engaging a wide range of interests and enthusiasms.
Postponed from the previous month due to the ravages of the weather-blighted Aberfeldy Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering, the launch proved a happy, popular event.
C’llr Alan Grant, convener of P&K’s Environment Committee spoke of his delight at seeing the new park in all its glory and paid tribute to those involved in its refurbishment. He said: “This was a fantastic community event marking a new era in the life of Victoria Park.” |
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Organisers' Gratitude
The Friends of Aberfeldy Parklands thanks everyone who came along to the official re-opening of Victoria Park. "You might have spotted me running about…I was the headless chicken in the blue t-shirt! Although it has to be said, there were probably a few of us!" reported Fiona Fraser. "There are so many people to thank I hardly know where to begin.
Firstly I would like to thank our park sponsors: Perth & Kinross Council, the Quality of Life Trust, Awards for All, the Ellis Campbell Charitable Foundation, the Aberfeldy Common Good Fund, Aberfeldy Rotary, the Atholl & Breadalbane Agricultural Society, and, above all, you, the community of Aberfeldy for helping in our fund raising efforts and supporting the project over the last few years.
"Without all this support none of the park upgrade would have been possible. Our kids would still have been playing on tired old swings & tatty climbing frames. Now we have a park to be proud of."
She continued: "Particular thanks should go to our Park Development Officer Erin Griffith who has worked tirelessly on the Victoria Park project for over two years, spending evenings here at meetings and helping out on various fund raising stalls the group has run over the period. Our group has been very lucky to work with Erin and we appreciate her commitment & dedication.
"Also, I would like to thank Paul Summers who stepped into the breach at the last minute as the official Perth & Kinross Council officer for the opening and who organised the generators, water and a host of other things for the event.
Activities
There was a plethora of activities to choose from on the day and Fiona expressed gratitude to the following activity providers for their enthusiasm, energy and time:
Laurie & the Sensation Science Centre, Steve Hadden for African Hand Drumming, Livvie Ingleby for Belly Dancing, John Connolly Tai Chi, Dunolly Adventure Outdoors for the bouncy castle, June McEwan for the blood & gore workshops, Catriona McKay for the art based workshops, Helen O’Brien for pebble mosaics, Franny McGrath & the Church of Scotland for the YMCA bus & Streetsports, Jeannie Grant & the Countryside Rangers and Fayre & Square for their excellent barbeque.
Fiona added: "On a personal note I would like to thank all the friends who offered their services as volunteers on the day. They all came to help put up marquees (even if one of the marquees was missing 5 poles!) and to man activities and stalls throughout the day. A HUGE thank you one and all!
"Thank you also to the Tay Ghillies and to Amicable Marquees for their services on the day – quite frankly they showed us amateur marquee trainees how it was really done!
"I would like to add a particular thank you to my colleagues at Fourways, Bridget Mongan, Tracey Curran and Carlie Bannerman who did an amazing job organising and running the biggest tombola I’ve ever seen on behalf of our group. They raised the astounding amount of £879 – well done girls!
Donations
Thanks were expressed for the 'huge generosit' of the following people and businesses for kindly donating prizes:
Spirit of Wood, Scalliwags, Billy Duff, Graham Pirie, Jean Smollett. Ina Ross, Michelle Jamieson, Helen Norrie, The Courtyard Shop, Aberfeldy Recreation Centre, Quaich Café, Breadalbane Hotel, Fortingall Hotel, Courtyard Restaurant, Waterfront Restaurant, Weem Hotel, Fountain Bar, Steven Dow, Aberfeldy Butchers, Kenmore Post Office & shop, Kenmore Hotel, Pet Shop, Spar, Enhance Hair & Beauty, Enerfoil, Gaulds Funeral Directors, Kirsty McBride, Brenda Wright, Terry Mongan, Doigs, Taymouth Café & Gifts, Fourways Day Service, Farmfresh, Aberfeldy Flower Shop, Free Spirit, C&N Joiners, Lesley Chalmers, Aberfeldy Ironmongers, Davidsons Chemist, Breadalbane Stores, Chocolat, Munros, Wishing Well, House of Menzies, Burnside Joiners, Aberfeldy Co-op, Black Watch Inn, Highland Adventure Safaris, Stewart Campbell Plumbing & Heating Engineer, Anne Garnett, Theresa Dasilva, Moness Country Club, Perthshire Paintball, Brian Mackie Welding & Fabrication, Dunolly Adventure Outdoors, Aberfeldy Dental Laboratory, Sean Campbell Builder, Frieders Bookshop, Temple Art Gallery, Helen Flatley, Country Fayre café, Peter Kerr painter, Aberfeldy Electrics, C Boynes Builder, Willie Henderson Joiner, Crawford McLoughlin Joiner, Hughie Lambie Fencing Contractor, Inn on the Tay, Legends Coffee Shop, Cameron Swan, Ross Hair Stylist, Cunningham Carpets, Watermill Bookshop, Homer, The Barber in the Square, Windows, Grandtully Logos, The Hair Shop, Francis Drew, Janet Hogon, Mackenzie Strickland Associates, P&J Haggarts, the Pantry, Beyond Adventure & the Aberfeldy Gallery.
Fiona said: "Thanks are also due to the local community groups who came along on the day – I hope you had a successful day too.
"I would also like to add a final thanks to JK Rowling who very kindly provided signed copies of the latest Harry Potter novel as part of the prize for our two young art competition winners, Hamish Ashcroft and Mairi Cameron. Mairi & Hamish officially opened the park on the day, sliding through the red ribbon!
"Jo Rowling had generously agreed to come along to our original opening date in August as our mystery guest, but was unfortunately unable to make the rescheduled date due to another engagement. We really appreciated the gesture of the books and for being willing in the first place to take the time to come along to our wee event."
The Future
Although the major part of the project is complete the Parks group is still considering smaller projects and is taking on board other park improvements. It is keen to hear from anyone who has any ideas about the Victoria Park. An art project is planned in the near future so if that is of particular interest to anyone or they would just like to be added to the group e-mail list for minutes, they should contact: fiona-fraser@supanet.com.
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